Cohcfvete-post mold



L. A. AND B. A- GRANGER.

CONCRETE POST MOLD.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAR. 22, 1919.

atent d Dec. 2,1919,

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fem/M TYNETED STATE PATENT QFFTQEG LEO A GRANGER AND IBEBTI-IA A. GRANGER, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE-POST MOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed March 22, 1919. Serial No. 284,237.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lno A. GRANGER and .Bnn'rrm A. GRANGER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Concrete-Post Molds, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved mold for forming concrete posts, and especially fence posts.

One object of the invention is to provide, in such a mold, means for conveniently withdrawing cores therefrom for forming holes in the post.

A further object is to provide such a mold which can be expeditiously and conveniently removed from the post formed therein.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a broken perspective View of our improved mold, the cover being absent therefrom; Fig. is a similar view showing the mold filled with concrete and a partly tan'iped down; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the mold complete; Fig. l is a similar view of the cover inverted with the post thereon; Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of the mold on the lines 5-5, 6-6 of Fig; l. i

The concrete post I intended to be cast by the improved mold isshown in detail in Fi 4: and is T-shaped its area decreasing uniformly toward one end, in cross section, hav ing a cross member 2, which, when the post is used as a fence post, extends in a vertical plane at right angles thereto. It also has an oblong or extended foot 4, connecting said cross and central members, and the object of which is to assist in holding the post in the ground. r

The outer edges of the cross and central members contain reinforcing bars 6, and the cross member contains reinforcing material 7 in the form of chicken wire mesh, or other suitable transverse lacing.

On referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the mold for forming sucha post comprises two sections, 8, 9, almost, butnot.

exactly, alike in form,each section comprising' an inner wall or member 11, a bottom member 12, a top. member 13, and an outer member 14, theinner and outer members being secured against the edges of the top and'bottom members, and the outer member 14, the inner and outer members being secured against the edges of the top and bottom members, and the outer member l-l, extending above the, top member as shown at 16. It will, therefore, be evident that said top, bottom, inner and outer members form a chamber 17 The sections are hinged together by hinges 18, spaced at suitable in tervals and secured to the under sides of the bottom members 12; thus the upper portions of the two sections of said mold can swing apart away from each other. As is shown in Fig. 4i the sides 19 of the central member 3 of the post converge toward each other outwardly, and to produce this result the inner faces of the inner walls 11 incline outwardly upward. Also the two surfaces 21, next the central member, of the cross member taper outwardly, or incline outwardly toward the opposite surface ofsaid upper edge of the member 11, are formed with an upper surface 22 inclining upwardly outward. The mold is provided with a metal lining consisting of two sections 23, 24, which, in general, correspond in cross sectional form to the inner surfaces of the mold sections, each lining section being secured to the corresponding mold section by means of a metal strip 26 the outer margin of the lining being secured between said strip and the outer member 14; of the mold section by screws 27. The lining section 23 is also secured at its other longitudinal margin between the inner member 11 of the mold section 8 and a longitudinal spacing supporting member 28, while the corresponding margin of the other section 24- rests upon the top of said supporting member, being suitably curved to form the rounded outer edge of the central member 3 of the post.

The function, therefore, of the supporting member 28 is to support this curved margin of the lining 2e and the concrete which rests upon said edge.

The end of the cavity between the two mold sections which forms the top of the post is closed by means of cross walls 29 secured to the corresponding ends of the mold sections, and which abut against each other when the mold is closed, but the end which forms the bottom of the post is closed by a box 31, which, when said mold sections are in the proper position for forming the post, is placed on the proper ends of said mold sections, having walls 32 which fit outside and closely against the outer members 1% of the mold sections, said box being secured in place by pins 33 through its walls 32 entering said outer members 14. This box has therein stops 34 which abut against the ends of the mold sections and thereby leave a space considerably wider than the mold cav ity in general and, which, when filled with the concrete, forms the extended-foot 4 of the post.

In said chambers 17 are contained the central portions of cores 36 of round iron rod, which are arranged in longitudinal series in said chambers at suitable intervals, the object of these cores being to form holes 37 in the flanges or side portions of the cross member of the fence post. For this purpose, the upper portions of said pins extend through holes 38 in the top member 18, reinforcing plate and mold lining of each mold section and up to the level of the upper surfaces of the metal strips 26, so that the tops of the cores are in horizontal plane with the top of the mold. The lowermost portions of the cores extend through holes 39 in the bottom members 12 of, and reinforcing plate attached to, the mold sections, these holes 38, 89, serving as guides for the cores. The concrete 40 which is used for fori'ning the fence post contains only sufficient water to make it a plastic mixture, as distinguished from what is known as a sloppy mixture. This plastic mixture is placed in the mold cavity to a level higher than the mold cavity and is then tamped down to a maximum density. After sufficient tamping, the surplus above the top of the mold is scraped off level with said top and smoothed to a true plane. A board 41 is then placed upon the top of the mold to entirely inc-lose the concrete therein, and is secured thereto by means of spring wire clamps, which allow the use of a variation in width and thickness of the cover board, shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. One end of each clamp is formed into a loop 44, while the other end has a transverse extension 46, and an intermediate portion 47 is coiled. Two handles 48, threaded at their inner ends, are screwed into the bottom member 12 of each mold section after having been passed through the loop 44 of one of the clamps. The extension 46 of the clamp is drawn out against the tension of the coiled spring 47 until it can be passed over the edge of the top board or cover 41. hen said clamps 43, so secured on the handles 48, engage said top board or cover 41, the latter is firmly held in position, closing the mold cavity.

It is now necessary to withdraw the cores 36, so as to form the holes in the flanges of the fence post. We provide means for withdrawing them all in each half of the mold at the same time, such means consisting in' general of a longitudinally extending member having an operative engagement with all of the cores on each side of the mold, whereby a movement of said member, preferably a longitudinal movement, will result in a partly helical withdrawing movement of the cores. The particular means here shown for this purpose consists of a stout rod 51, bent so as to form a series of alternating long and short inclined portions 52, 53, inclining in opposite directions from the general direction of the wire. Each long inclined portion extends through coils 54 formed on middle portion of a core, so that, when the rod 51 is drawn longitudinally, the core 36 will be moved transversely thereto by the wedging or cam and helical action of the longitudinally extending inclined portion 52 pass ing through said coils. Forthe purpose of facilitating the longitudinal movement of each wire 51, it is formed at an end, extending outside the chamber 17, witha portion bent, as shown at 56, to form a handle.

The position of the coils 54, each on one side of the corresponding core 36, is very advantageous in withdrawing said cores 36 through the tamped concrete, because the friction of the rod 51 through said coils 54, and acting at one side of the axis of the core 36, operates to twist the core 36 about its axis to a sufficient extent to loosen said core in the tamped concrete, thereby facilitating the longitudinal withdrawal of the core from said material.

hen the tamping has made the concrete sufiiciently dense to retain its molded shape and after the mold is removed, the mold is inverted so that the board 41 is undermost and supports the post, and, then, by means of the handles 48, the sections of the mold are swung outwardly upon the hinges 18, leaving the concrete postresting upon the board. In this position it can be left until it is sufiiciently hard to be removed from the board, and placed elsewhere until it is thoroughly cured, and ready to be used as apost.

1. In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross member and a central member or. rib, mold sections, hinges pivotally connecting said mold sections, said sections being so secured to said hinges that portions thereof, .when closed together on said hinges, are sufliciently far apart to form said rib, with walls extending transversely to said portions to form the inner surface of the'cross member of the post, and with portions extending in the same general direction as said spaced portions to form the edges of said cross member, and a cover to form the outer side of said cross member.

2. In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross member and a central member or rib, mold sections, hinges pivotally connecting said mold sections, said sections being so secured on said hinges that portions thereof, when closed together on said the cross member of the post, and withportions extending in the same general. direction as said spaced portions to form the edges of said cross member, a supporting .member between said first-named portions,

and a cover for engaging said latter portions to formthe' outer "surface of said cross member.

8. In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross memberand a tapering central member or rib, mold sections, hinges pivotally connecting said mold sections, said sections-being so secured on said hinges that portions thereof, when closed together on said hinges, are sufliciently far apart to form said rib, with walls extendingtransversely to said portions to form the inner surface of the cross memberof the post, and with portions extending in the same general directlon as said spaced. portions to form the edges of said cross member, a supporting member between sald first-named portmns andinclined longitudinally toward said sccend-named portions, and a cover for engaging said last-named portions to form the outer side of said cross member. 7

4. In a mold for forming a concrete post having cross member and a central member or rib, mold sections,hinges pivotally connecting aid mold sections, said sections being so secured on saidhinges that portions thereof, when closed together on said hinges, are suficiently far apart to form said rib, with walls extending transversely to said portions to form the inner surface of the cross member of the post, and with portions extending in the same general di rection assaid spaced portions to form the edges of said cross member, a cover for en gaging said latter portions to form the outer side of said cross member, said walls having each a longitudinal series of apertures, cores extending through said apertures, and means for simultaneously moving all said cores on one side of the mold in the direction of their lengths.

In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross member and a central memher or rib, mold sections, which, when closed walls having each a longitudinal series of apertures, cores extending through said apertures, and means for simultaneously twisting all of said cores on one side of the mold about their axes and then simultaneously moving all of tion of their lengths.

{3. In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross member and a central memsaid cores in the direcber'or rib, mold sections, having portions which, when closed together, are sniliciently far apart to form said rib, walls extending transversely to said portions to form the inner surface of the cross member of the post, and with portions extending in the same 7 general direction as said spaced portions to form theedges of said cross member, a cover for engaging said latter portions to form the outer side of said cross member, said walls having each a longitudinal seies of apertures, cores extending through said apertures, and a device extending longitudinally adprcent to said mold and operatively connected with all of the cores of each mold section to move them in said holes by a single movement of said device.

7. In a mold for forming a concrete post havinga cross member and a central memher or rib, mold sections, hinges pivotally connecting said mold sections, said sections being so secured to said hinges that portions thereof, when closed together on said hinges, are sufliciently far apart to form said rib, with walls extending transversely to said portions to form the inner surface of the cross member of the post, and with portions extending in the same general direction as said spaced portions to form the edges of said cross member, a cover for engaging said latter portions to form theouter side of said cross member, said walls having each a longitudinal series of apertures, cores extending through said apertures, and a device extending longitudinally adjacent to said mold and operatively connected with all of the cores of each mold section to move them in said holes by a single movement of said device. v

8. In a mold for forming a concrete post comprising a member having a longitudinal series of holes, mold sections, provided with means for spacing portions thereof, which, when closed together are sufficiently far apart to form said member, one of said portions having a longitudinal series of apertures, cores extending through said apertures, and a device extending longitudinally adjacent to said mold on one side of the axes of said cores and operatively connected with all of the cores of each mold section to move them through the holes, when said device is moved longitudinally.

9. In a mold for forming a concrete post comprising a member having a longitudinal series of holes, mold sections, provided with means for spacing portions thereof, which,

when closed together are sufiiciently far 7 apart to form said member, one of said. porsaid holes in said portions and-having transverse projections outside said cavity and ;a longitudinally extending member on onc'side of the axes of said cores engaging all of said projections to. move simultaneously the cores in said holes by a single movement of said longitudinally extending member.

10. In a mold for forming a concrete post com iu'ising a member having a longitudinal series of holes, mold sections provided with means for spacing portions thereof, which, when closed together, are sufficiently far apart to form said member, one of said portions having a longitudinal series of holes,

cores extending into the mold cavity through said holes in said portions, each core having a loop, and a longitudinally eX- tending member having a series, corresponding with the series of cores, of inclined portions extending through said loops, v11ereby when said member ismoved longitudinally,

said cores are moved transversely.

11. In a mold for forming a concrete post comprisinga member having a longitudinal series ofholes, mold sections provided With means for spacing portions thereof, which, when closed together, are sufficiently far apart to form said member, one of said portions having a longitudinal series of holes, cores extending into the mold cavity through said holes in said portions, each core having a loop, and a longitudinally extending member having a series, corresponding with the series of cores, of inclined portions extending through said loops, said longitudinally I longitudinally.

extending member having, beyond the end of the mold section, a handle for moving it -12; In a mold for. forming a concrete post 7 having a cross member and a central memher or rib,inold sections and a cover for forming the mold cavity, handles projecting laterally from said mold sections, and spring clamps permanently but movably secured to said handles'and havlng laterally extending portions to engage said cover when secured in the position to close the mold cavity.

13. In a mold for forming a concrete post having a cross me1nber,a central member or rib, and an extended foot, mold sections, and a removable box for forming said mold cavity, said box having stops forspaeing the end of the box from the, end 01 the mold sections, said stops being located at a greater distance from the center of the mold cavity than the Walls thereof which form the body of the post. p

14. In a mold for'forming a concrete post having a cross member, and a central mem ber or rib, mold sections, which, when closed together, are suflieiently far apart to form said rib, and having ivalls for forming the inner surface of the cross member of the post, portions extending in the same general direction as said spaced portions to form the edges on the outer side of said cross member, and a closure to form the outer side of said cross member.v 1

LEO A. GRANGER. BERTHA A. GRANGER. 

